In Numbers 2 God sets up the camp around the tent of meeting. We learned in the last chapter that the Levites camped closest to the tent of meeting to guard it. The rest of the people surround the Levites by their ancestral houses. Each tribe and clan remains separate from each other. The camps face the tent of meeting.

In Numbers 3 God puts the Levites under the control of Aaron and his sons. Their task is to tend the tabernacle and its contents.  Aaron’s sons and descendants are registered as the priests of the people of Israel.

God then establishes all the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn of the Israelites. After God killed the firstborn of the Egyptians He established that the firstborn of all the Israelites were to be consecrated to Him. Now God is accepting the Levites as the consecrated ones. A census of the tribe of Levi is taken. This enrollment is different from the others in that the other enrollments consist of males 20 years old and older, whereas the Levite enrollment consists of males one month old and older. The consecration of the Levites is a lifelong proposition. They would be trained from childhood to be the caretakers of the tent of meeting and later the temple.

Each clan of the Levites is camped together around the tent of meeting. Each clan has a particular duty in caring for the tent of meeting. Eleazar, Aaron’s son oversees the work of the Levites in charge caring for the sanctuary. Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s sons camp in front of the tent of meeting. They are responsible for performing the rites in the sanctuary on behalf of the people. Any outsiders who come near the tent are to be killed.

Even though God accepts the Levites as His, the firstborn males of all the Israelites are registered when they are one month old. The difference in the number of Levites versus the firstborn males of the rest of the Israelites needed to be redeemed by a monetary assessment.

In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas have the same experience as they did earlier. They speak in the synagogue first and many believe. Those Jews who do not believe rile up people. Attempts are made to mistreat the apostles and they leave for  another place. Wherever they are Paul and Barnabas boldly proclaim the good news

While they are in Lystra Paul heals a lame man. The people, who worship other gods, think that Barnabas and Paul are Zeus and Hermes come to earth. They try to offer a sacrifice to the apostles. Paul and Barnabas tell the people they are mortals who are worship the living God. They encourage the people to turn from their gods and turn toward the living God who has given them blessings even though they do not believe.

The unbelieving Jews from Antioch and Iconium are able to sway the crowds against the apostles. They stone Paul and leave him for dead. As the new disciples gather around Paul he got up and went into Lystra.

Paul and Barnabas went on to another city continuing to proclaim the good news and gaining more disciples. They return to the cities they have visited and encourage the disciples to continue in their faith despite the persecution. In each church elders were appointed and they were entrusted to the Lord.

Many come to believe in Jesus because of miracles performed or charismatic leaders. It is important to believe in Jesus not because of a leader or because of what he can do for you, but because he is who he is, the Son of the living God. True faith is not just a fair weather faith. It sees us through the difficult times and strengthens us when life tries to lead us astray.